Automobile-signal



J. N. KEYSER.

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1, 1919.

4 SHEETSSHEET l.

4' Z a anuewl'oz .l. N. KEYSER.

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED MAHII, I9I9.

1 31,344. Patented Feb. 17, 1920.

4 SHEETS--SHEET 2.

muenfoz 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3 5 /100 ntoz Patented Feb. 17, 1920.

J. N. KEYSER.

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1, 1919.

saw 8 9 Gum/11113 J. N. KEYSER.

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.I,1919- 1,33 1 ,344. Patented Feb. 17,1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

awvamiioz it is applied.

UNI ED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN N. KEYSER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

AUTOMOBILE-SIGNAL.

Application filed March 1, 1919.

. following is a specification.

The object of my present invention is the provision of an automobile signal that is by virtue of the relative arrangement of its elements exceedingly compact and yet is possessed of the capacity of showing a number of signals of individual purport at the will of the operator.

Being compact in construction and susceptible of being made in various ornamental forms my novel signal is calculated to enhance rather than detract from the finished appearance of the automobile to which ith the foregoing in mind, the invention in all of its detailswill be fully understood from the following description and claims when the same are read in connection with the drawings, accompanying and forming part of this specification, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective showing the exterior of one practical embodiment of my invention. i

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section'showing the interiorof the said embodiment and the working parts thereof.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section of the same.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section of the same, taken in the plane of the line 44 in Fig. 7

Fig. 5 is a vertical section, and Fig. 6, a horizontal section of a modification.

F ig. 7 is an elevation of the same on a reduced scale.

F ig. 7 a is a fica-tion.

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of a duplex signal constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged horizontal section taken in the plane indicated by the line 9-9 of Fig. 8, looking downwardly.

Fig. 10 is a horizontal section, on an enlarged scale, taken in the plane indicated by the line 1010 of Fig. 8, looking downwardly. i

Reference as to details will firstbe' had to detail view of a slight modi- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 17, 1920. Serial Iva 280,116.

.Figs. 1 to 4 in which similar numerals designate corresponding parts.

The casing 1 of the signal is preferably, though not necessarily, of sheet metal, and is provided in its wall 2 with an opening 3 for the display of signals. lVhen deemed expedient the said opening 3 may be occupied by apane of glass or other transparent material with a view to excluding dust and dirt from the interior of the casing. This,

however, is not of the essence of my invention, and I have therefore regarded it as unnecessary to illustrate the same.

My invention has for one salient feature, the combination with a movable member 4 carrying a pane 5 of transparent or translueent glass or other suitable material and mounted to be normally positioned with the pane 5 opposite the opening 3, of a plurality of sign or signal bearing members 7 constructed and arranged in such manner that the movement of any one of the same to position its sign or signal opposite the opening 3 will be attended by movement of the member 4 to carry its pane 5 out of aline fuent with the opening 3, while the return of the member 7 to its normal and idle position will be synchronous with the restoration of the member 4 to its normal position with its pane 5 opposite the opening 3. The invention has for a second important feature, the arrangement of the member 4 and the several members 7 in nested relation which is materially advantageous because it contributes to the compactness of the signal and at the same time renders the same strong and durable in construction and re liablein operation. It is also of the essence of my invention to so mount the members 4 and 7 that they have a common center of movement. To this end I provide the member 4 and each member 7 with end arms which are independently mounted to turn about a shaft 8, carried-by the side walls of the-casing 1. The end arms of the member 4 are numbered 9, and are equipped with inwardly directed, lateral projections or fingers 10. These fingers 10 are arranged to seat in notches 11 provided in the end arms 12 of the members 7. In consequence when any one of the members 7 is swung upwardly to position its sign opposite the opening 3, the member 4 will be raised by and before said member 7 to carry its pane out of. aline'nient with the opening 3.

i rgain when said member is movediior' per inltted to gravltate backto its normal posr-g tion, the member 1 byreason of gravity will follow the member 7- until the pane 5 of the nfieinber 4: is opposite the opening 3., this point I would have it understood that the pane 5 is preferably red to serve dangersignal, though. it may be eitherred or white as conditionsr-rc'quire. When in their lowermost and normal positions themembers 7 bear, as shown against. stops l-3 fixed to the casino'l' and rising from the bottom wall thereor. The intermediateporation "of thel'member Jr-preferably describes" arr arc of arcircle vertically, and the same is true ofgtlie intermediate portions-of 'the' 1 membersjj; This-provision manifestly con tributes to: the compact arrangement of the working parts. 1 Moreover the intermediate poltionsoi each "member-7 is preferably of open-workiconstruction', and the openings of each serve for the passage of rays 10f light {roman electric or other suitable lamp 1 1, Fig. and also serve.to;form a word of agpropriate:import; For instance'the intermediatev portion of '1 one .ineniber 7 will" carry the wordgfR1ght -slgnifying the rn'- tentioni or" the driver to turn to theiright,

another will bear theword Left, another theEW'Ord Stop, andso on. i 1 s r 5 @5111 F1gSJ 1 to 4 a certain: specificand 'a'cL vantageous-means is disclosed through which the members "7 areactuated. This means A suitably I fulcrum for a plurality ofindependently- 'i'noVa-hIeQUpI-ight levers 19, Figs. 2%, which are maintained in spaced relation thereon by sleeve sect1ons20. lntermedlate the upper arms ofthe-lwers- 19 and the balls 17 are links2l, best shown in Fig. 3, and connected to the loweralrms of said levers 19 are rods" 22 which arecarried through an opening or openings; 23in one wall of the casing l.

Manifestly when the driver pulls upon any one of the, rods 22 the member '7' connected with said' rodiwill beswung upwardly'i-nde pendently off the other members 7; alsogth'at' when the rod 22fis' released its member 7 gWill gravitate'to its normal position or ni'ay 1be"pos1t1ve'ly moved through the connected rod to sn'ch'position. Thus the driver is enabled to quickly and easily display any one of the signals carried by the members 7and retainsuch signal in exposed'positi'on' as long as conditions irequire'. Upon; the return of 5 as the case'mtaybe."

each member T to its normalposition the anember' will gravitate to its normal position, Fig. 3, forthe purpose ofd1splay1ng' the red or danger signal or The embodimentillustratedin Figs. 5 7 Vdifiers from that shown in Figs. 1-4 111 that its 'niembers 7 are providedrwith panes 7 of nnca, glass or other transparent material upon whleh are. individual signals such, ror

instance, as the word Stop? shown in Fig. The embod ment of Figs. 5 to 7 1s also pe- 1 culiarin that eachoi the members Wis pro vided on its interniediate portion with rear- -wardly reaching arms 21 arranged in parallelism, Fig. 6. Each'a'rni 21F isconnected at 3O w-ith the upper slotted arm of a vertically' swinging lever 19* the lower 5 arm of the white W light whiclris connected with airod 22 that'ex tends-through. an opening in'one wall of the casing '1. Ql Vhen: any-one ofthe-ro'ds 22 m pulled rearwardly the 1n1e1nber"'7 connected with said'rod will be thrust upwardly to displayits sign or signal through the opening 3 after it displaces or raises he" member f Then'when the rod 22is released, the ineniber? connectedgtherewith, and'the member 4' will g avitate to their normal positions.

-Ittisentirely feasibleas suggested in Fig. =7 'to conneot thefarnis 21 ofthe members 7? s to the lower arms ofvertically swlng ng 1 levers 19" the upper arms of said levers 19 being connected to-operating rodsibr wires 22 which arecarrled outside theca sing 1. 1 In the duplex signal of Figs. 8. to 10, the

casing '1 is preferably shaped as shown with openings 3 in its rounded end portionsland mounted on'a. hollow column 40- adapted to be mounted on any suitable part oit'anautomobile so as to display one opening'ii at the front and the other at th'e rem, Mounted inthe casing 1* and adjacent tov each end' thereof is a member at and a-"s'et-of members similar tol'those"disclosed in'Fig. If g would here have it understooch however that I pre 'r tofequip the'1ne1'nber4 adjacent to the forward opening 3 with a w hite pane 5 andthe member .4: adjacent to the rear opening 3 with a red pane 5, Fine'dly connected at their ends to theend arms of the members? "and" loosely mounted on the V shafts 8 are'bail-shaped' levers=17 F'which are arranged innested relation as shown in Fig.

10. Connected. to and depending iroin the bights oftl'i'elevers"1T7 are rods 21, and-c011 ne'ctedto the lowerends of tlie'rods 21 coin; ele a y, TQ P l ig"members 7 at oppositefend's' of the casing 1*} are links 19. For instance one; link 19 will be connected with the forward and rear'me'mbersfi bear ifig the FfRight fsiginf another link 19 -7 will he connect-ed to the' forwardand; rear 11381115 bers'f? bearing the -Left sign and so on; Each link 19 scOnneCted to an individual cable 253 that" is carried around a sheave 50 and to a suitable point of operation so as to enable the driver to conveniently and synchronously set the corresponding signals at the opposite ends of the casing 1 It will be apparent from the foregoing that the salient features hereinbefore set forth are common to all of the several embodiments herein disclosed. V

I have specifically described the embodiments shown in order to impart a. full, clear and exact understanding of the same. It is to be understood, however, that I do not restrict myself to the specific constructions; the scope of my invention being defined by my appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An automobile signal comprising a casing for a wall provided with a transparent portion located in front of a display position for a sign-bearing member, means for illuminating the interior of the easing and the following instrumentalities located permanently within the said casing, namely z-a movable member that normally rests in display position, and a movable sign-bearing member which when moved to display position displaces the first-named member, and which in returning to its normal position permits the return to normal position of the first-named member.

2. An automobile signal comprising a casing for a wall provided with a transparent portion located in front of a display position for a sign-bearing member, means for illuminating the interior of the vcasing and the following instrumentalities located permanently within the said casing, namely a gravitating member that normally rests in display position, and a gravitating signbearing member which when raised to display position elevates the first-named member, and which in gravitating to its normal position permits of the gravitational return to normal position of the first-named mem ber.

3. An automobile signal comprising a casing for a wall provided with a transparent portion located in front of a display position for a sign-bearing member, means for illuminating the interior of the casing and the following instrumentalities located permanently within the said casing, namely a movable member that normally rests in display position, and a plurality of independently movable sign bearing members any one of which when moved to display position displaces the first-named member, and which in returning to its normal position permits the return to normal position of the firstnamed member.

4. An automobile signal comprising a casing for a wall provided with a transparent portion located in front of a display. position for a sign-bearing member, means for illuminating the interior of the casing and the following instrunientalities located permanently within the said casing, namely agravitating member that normally rests in display position, and a plurality of independently-movable, gravitating sign-bearing members any one of which whenmoved to display position displaces the first-named member, and which in gravitating to its normal position permits of the gravitational return to normal position of the first-named member.

An automobile signal comprising :1 casing for a. wall. provided with a transparent portion located in front of a display position for a sign-bearing member, means for illuminating the interior of the casing and the following instrumentalities located permanently within the said casing, namely 2- a movable ,member that normally rests in display position, and a plurality of independently movable normally nested signbearing members any one of which when moved to display position displaces the firstnamed member, and which in returning to its normal position permits the return to normal position of the first-named member.

6. An automobile signal comprising a casing for a wall provided with a transparent portion located in front of a display position for a sign-bearing member, means for illuminating the interior of the casing and the following instrumentalities located permanently within the said casing, namely a gravitating member that normally rests in display position, and a plurality of inrlependently-movablc, gravitating, normallynested sign-bearing members any one of which when raised to display position elevates the first-named member, and which in gravitating to its normal position permits of the gravitational return to normal position of the first-named member.

7. An automobile signal comprising a cas ing for a wall provided with a transparent portion located in front of a display position for a sign-bearing member, means for illuminating the interior of the casing and the following instrumentalities located permanently within the said casing, namely a swinging member that normally rests in display position, and a swinging sign-bearing member which when swung to display position displaces the first-named member, and which in swinging back to its normal position permits the return to normal position of the first-named member.

8. In a signal, the combination of a swinging member that normally rests in display position and has an arm, and a plurality of independently swinging sign-bearing members each of which has an arm for cooperation with the arm of the first-named member, and any one of which when moved to the first-named member, and any one of which when moved to display position thereby" displaces the first-named" member and which in returning to its normal position permits the return to normal-position of the first-named member. 7

10. In: a signal, a casing having a display portion,a swingingmember in the casing, that describes a part of a circle and normally rests in display'position and has an arm on which is a projection, and a plurality of normally-nested, independentlyswinging sign-bearing members, in the casing, each of which describes a part of a circle and has an arm to bear against said projection on the arm of the first-named member, and any one of which when'moved to display position thereby displaces the first-named member, and which in returning to its normal position permits the return to normal position of the first-named member.

11. In a signal, a casing having a display portion, a swinging member in the casing, that describes a part of a circle aildnormally rests in displayposition and has an arm on which is a projection, and a 'plurality of normally-nested, independently swinging sign-bearing members, in the casing, each of which describes a part of a circle and has an arm to bear against said projection on the arm of the first-namcd member, and any one of which when moved, 1 to display; position thereby displaces the first-named member, and which in returning to its normal position permi-ts'the return to 7 normal position. of the first-named member, and individual operating connections through which the are moved; 7 V 1 12. The combination inasignal, of lightatfording means, a member movable from and to a positionfor the; display of the second n'amed members light, a movable sign-bearing member associated with the first named member whereby movement of one member willattend'movement of the other, and an operating connection through which one member may be moved.

7 13. In a signal, light-atfording means associated with a member movable from and to a position forthe displayof the light, av

members havingthe capacity of displaying the light through their signs,'and individual operating connections through which said members are independently "actuata'bleh v In testimony whereof I aflixmy signature.

- Joni? N. KEYsna 2 which'the second-named members are-vinde- 

